KURNOOL: Arguments over who should bag the contract for collection of market cess deteriorated into a full-scale armed clash between TDP and YSRC activists at Dhone in Kurnool district on Friday. At least seven persons were injured, two of them seriously, in the brutal combat in front of the municipal office in the town.
According to police, trouble broke out after YSRC activists questioned the discretion of the municipal authorities in awarding the work of collection of cess and penalties from the municipal market areas in the town to those who allegedly belong to the ruling TDP. Armed with sticks, iron rods and knives, members of the two groups began attacking one another outside the municipal office turning the area into a war zone. The youths were seen cornering their victims and beating them up mercilessly.
A lone policeman, who was on the spot, could not control them and was seen in footage beamed on channels pleading with the warring groups to calm down. The free-for-all went on for quite some time until more number of policemen arrived and brought the situation under control.
It all began around 11 a.m. when municipal authorities led by chairperson Gayatri Devi and commissioner Ramesh Babu went into a huddle to finalise awarding of the annual work of collection of cess from markets which sell chicken, mutton, vegetables and so on to those who filed tenders.
The followers of TDP leader and Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishna Murthy and those of YSRC MLA and public accounts committee chairman B Rajendranath Reddy arrived at the venue to file tenders. Sme ruling party activists, who had come by then, stopped the YSRC men at the main door of the municipal office. The YSRC youths picked up an argument with them. Soon, the two sides began attacking each other with sticks and iron rods.
Policemen, who were rushed to the spot, caned the activists of both the sides and restored normalcy. Among those admitted to the Kurnool Government Hospital included YSRCP activists Prasad, Lalbasha, Sudhakar, Ramana and Madan. The condition of Prasad and Lalbasha is reported to be critical.
The police took into custody as many as 20 persons and registered cases against them, Dhone DSP S Baba Fakruddin said. After tension subsided, the municipal officials finalised the tenders amid police security, municipality commissioner Ramesh Babu said and asserted that everything was done as per rules.